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Record linkage for character-based surnames: Evidence from chinese exclusion

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  • Postel, Hannah M.

Abstract

This paper proposes a novel pre-processing technique to improve record linkage for historical Chinese populations. Current matching approaches are relatively ineffective due to Chinese-specific naming conventions and enumeration errors. This paper develops a three-step process that both triples the match rate over baseline and improves match accuracy. The procedures developed in this paper can be applied in part or in full to other sources of historical data, and/or modified for use with other character-based languages such as Japanese. More broadly, this approach suggests the promise of language-specific linkage procedures to boost match rates for ethnic minority groups.

Suggested Citation

  • Postel, Hannah M., 2023. "Record linkage for character-based surnames: Evidence from chinese exclusion," Explorations in Economic History, Elsevier, vol. 87(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:exehis:v:87:y:2023:i:c:s0014498322000717
    DOI: 10.1016/j.eeh.2022.101493
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Ran Abramitzky & Leah Platt Boustan & Katherine Eriksson, 2012. "Europe's Tired, Poor, Huddled Masses: Self-Selection and Economic Outcomes in the Age of Mass Migration," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 102(5), pages 1832-1856, August.
    2. Price, Joseph & Buckles, Kasey & Van Leeuwen, Jacob & Riley, Isaac, 2021. "Combining family history and machine learning to link historical records: The Census Tree data set," Explorations in Economic History, Elsevier, vol. 80(C).
    3. Jonas Helgertz & Joseph Price & Jacob Wellington & Kelly J Thompson & Steven Ruggles & Catherine A. Fitch, 2022. "A new strategy for linking U.S. historical censuses: A case study for the IPUMS multigenerational longitudinal panel," Historical Methods: A Journal of Quantitative and Interdisciplinary History, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 55(1), pages 12-29, January.
    4. Ran Abramitzky & Leah Boustan & Katherine Eriksson & James Feigenbaum & Santiago Pérez, 2021. "Automated Linking of Historical Data," Journal of Economic Literature, American Economic Association, vol. 59(3), pages 865-918, September.
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